Choose a programmable multicooker if you mainly prepare rice, slow-cooked dishes or steamed vegetables and want to step away while they cook. A food processor with a cooking function suits a different need if you regularly chop, grate, blend or knead. If your current appliances already cover the recipes you make, consider what a new one would add before making room for it. In every case, compare the usable capacity and the level of attention required with the meals you usually prepare.
You’re making rice, a slow-cooked dish or steamed vegetables, and want cooking to continue once you’ve added the ingredients and started the programme. Que Choisir describes this as a typical use for multicookers, although you’ll still need to follow the steps required for each recipe.
You’re making a family meal or preparing ingredients for several dinners. The capacity marked on the bowl doesn’t tell you how much you can actually cook: Que Choisir points out, for example, that a 6 L Cookeo is limited to a 4 L cooking capacity.
If chopping, grating, blending or kneading are regular parts of your cooking, compare a food processor with a cooking function with the utensils you already own. Magimix lists these among the Cook Expert’s functions.
Worth considering if: you want to start a cooking programme suited to your everyday meals, then get on with something else.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to prepare the ingredients and respect the filling limits. Que Choisir notes that multicookers generally don’t stir food.
Worth considering if: your recipes regularly involve chopping, grating, blending or kneading as well as cooking.
Bear in mind: bowls and accessories take up space. Also check the model’s usable capacity, which is different from the total capacity shown on Magimix Cook Expert product pages.
Keep using them if: they cover your weekday recipes and you prefer to adjust the cooking as you go.
Bear in mind: these utensils won’t necessarily combine programme settings and a keep-warm function in one appliance.
| What matters to you | What to check | What consumers are looking for |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking without constant supervision | Check that the programmes suit your recipes and find out which steps still need your attention. | Once I’ve started dinner, I want to be able to leave the kitchen without constantly keeping an eye on the heat; around 42% of consumers would prioritise this level of independence. |
| How much you can actually cook | Check the fill-level guides for your recipes, particularly for liquids or pressure cooking, then compare them with the portions you usually make. | When I’m cooking for several people or making food to use in other meals, I need enough room in the bowl; around 33% of consumers would put this capacity at the top of their list. |
| Preparing ingredients | Look for chopping, grating, blending or kneading functions you’d genuinely use, and consider how much space the accessories need. | I often need to prepare ingredients before cooking, and I’d like to combine these tasks; around 25% of consumers would prioritise this versatility. |
The nominal capacity isn’t always the amount you’re allowed to cook. Que Choisir gives the example of a 6 L Cookeo bowl that can hold a maximum cooking volume of 4 L. The number of portions also depends on your recipe.
Check the maximum fill level in the manual, especially for liquid, expanding or pressure-cooked dishes.
Food-preparation functions won’t be much use if your weekday meals mainly involve cooking rice, steaming vegetables or making slow-cooked dishes.
Think about the meals you usually make: if you rarely chop, grate or knead, start by comparing multicookers’ cooking functions and capacity.
A programme can manage the heat and cooking time, but it won’t prepare the ingredients for you. Depending on the recipe, you may still need to brown ingredients, add them during cooking or stir the dish.
Read through a few recipes you plan to make, including the instructions for releasing pressure and cleaning.
A food processor with a cooking function and its preparation bowls may need more room than the base alone.
Measure the space with the lid and any necessary accessories in place, and don’t forget to check the clearance beneath your cupboards.
Also make room to store the bowls, steam basket and accessories when you’re not using them.
The Cookeo range focuses on meals cooked using programmes and guided recipes. Moulinex lists a 6 L bowl and 150 built-in recipes for the Cookeo+ CE851A10.
The range includes multicookers with pressure, slow and steam cooking modes. Instant Pot France lists 28 programmes and five programmable settings for the Pro 5,7 L.
The Cook Expert is designed for people who want to prepare ingredients and cook using one appliance. For the standard model, Magimix distinguishes between a total bowl capacity of 3,5 L and a usable capacity of 2,5 L.
The Thermomix TM7 combines food preparation, cooking and guided recipes. Vorwerk lists 24 modes for this model and states in its FAQ that the bowl has a capacity of 2,2 L.
These appliances are designed for cooking hot meals using programmable modes, rather than chopping or kneading ingredients. Compare their functions with your recipes and check the fill limits before choosing a bowl size.
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Worth considering if you want to start cooking a weekday meal using modes for pressure, slow and steam cooking.
The bowl is listed at 5,7 L, and the appliance has four customisable settings. Check the manual for the permitted fill level for your recipe and the steps for releasing steam.
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Consider this if you want to prepare several portions and choose from a range of cooking modes during the week.
The title lists an 8 L bowl and 12 preset menus. Compare these features with the fill limits in the manual, then measure the space available on your worktop.
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Worth comparing if you want to switch between different hot dishes and are also interested in an air-frying function.
The title mentions a 6 L bowl, an air-fryer lid and built-in scales. Check what’s included, how much room you’ll need for the accessories and the maximum fill level.
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Worth considering if you plan your cooking in advance and want to compare different menus for your usual meals.
The title specifies 24-hour programming, nine menus and two pressure settings. Check how many portions you can make with your recipes and whether it has a keep-warm function if you plan to rely on it.
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Worth comparing if you cook in larger quantities and want a choice of modes for hot meals.
The title lists a 7,1 L bowl. Check the maximum fill level, along with the delayed-start and keep-warm functions if they’re important to your routine. Follow the instructions for releasing steam when pressure cooking.
No. The bowl’s capacity doesn’t guarantee a certain number of portions. Que Choisir cites a 6 L Cookeo that can cook a maximum of 4 L. Check the fill-level guides in the manual and the quantity your recipes require, especially for liquids or pressure cooking.
Don’t assume so: a multicooker designed primarily for cooking won’t necessarily replace your food-preparation tools. Que Choisir says these appliances generally don’t stir food. If you often need these functions, compare what’s actually included with a food processor that cooks, such as the functions Magimix lists for the Cook Expert.
Rice and slow-cooked dishes are among the uses highlighted by Que Choisir. For planning meals in advance, Le Parisien Buying Guide also mentions soups, curries and tomato sauces. Choose programmes to suit your usual recipes, the steps involved and the quantity you need to make.
Contact the retailer with your proof of purchase to make a claim under the legal guarantee of conformity. The French Ministry of the Economy states that it applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional retailer. Check that your claim relates to a lack of conformity, rather than simply a change of mind.